@andersonmj2 I've been a JMP user since version 1. As you say, 'I have always used...', and I too find myself in the same boat. Over the years, I think JMP has done wonders adding new exploratory data analysis/visualization platforms that are super slick and cool...Graph Builder, expanding multivariate platforms, etc. But for my money, I'd be hard pressed to find a practical problem I was working on where I didn't start my analysis exploration with the good old Distribution platform. Seems before doing just about anything else I need to explore four issues:
1. Where's the middle?
2. How spread out is it?
3. What's the shape look like?
4. Is there anything unusual or suspicious that might make 'next steps' analysis problematic?
Whether it's continuous or categorical data...the Distribution platform is a good place to start.